XC is a game of attrition. It's pushing one's body to the brink of imploding, and then shoving over the edge. The XC World Cup started of with a bang this weekend in Pietermaritzburg, and while it looked like Nino Schurter might run away with the first win, luck would not be with him. Julien Absalon and Jolanda Neff took the first win on the redesigned track at round one. Conditions were hot and dry, and riders fought to keep from getting too over heated so they could make it to the end.
That in lycra there will be a bulge visible? Or is it that there will be no bulge visible?
"Look at Nino Schurter with his tight lycras, he's probably a better rider than all of us when it comes to technical riding.. "
Nino Schurter with just One Hand is better than anybody here...
I do wear baggies in the summer... however anyone thinking lycra is "not cool" should go on a diet...
ha.... kids...
They should remove the timing and make it a jury decision. Like figure skate.
It is just a commercial exhibition to attract kids and sell them stuff.
The internet generation.
you see it online, you buy it.
But I warn you! There are no chicks around cycling! It is all well edited.
If you want to get some tail I recommend getting into Arts and Music, that is where is at.
a top XC racer may end up in the top 1/3 of a downhill/enduro race.
a top DH/enduro racer would end up in the top 1/3 of an XC race... if he raced with women. maybe maybe maybe.
To all the kids that think DH is "real mtb"... you should study the story of the sport... ooopsss... forgot DH is just a lifestyle nowadays...
If you want to be a tough and dangerous sign up for a road bike race....
or just borrow a road bike and go ride with some weekend road riders for 4-6 hours.
Then let us know what you think is tough and dangerous.
I agree with that.
@DARKSTAR63 - doesn't it seem like a silly idea to ride technical trail with a bike not suited for it? Each to their own, just not my idea of having fun on a bike.
You kids just dont get what mtb is all about... You missed the boat. Dont know how to handle the bike except for cheesy "airtime"... You are just consumers of prepackaged goods. What is your idea of having fun on a bike? Go-pro, beer, $100 to ride park and dh/whatever bike to do 4 ft drops? Lol
www.vitalmtb.com/photos/features/WINNING-BIKE-Jared-Graves-Yeti-Arc-Carbon,6954/WINNING-BIKE-Jared-Graves-Yeti-ARC-Carbon,70440/sspomer,2
Yes, he won't be a contender in a World Cup like this, but he won't come last either if he race against the women
DH racers have different aim on their training, more muscle to sprint and control their bikes on the descent. I don't think we can compare them straight away. Specific training for specific result.
@Darkstar, sure, and the price you inevitably pay for not wearing any protection other than a flimsy helmet is obviously worth it to xc racers. But as I said, it's not my idea of having fun on a bike, but I've got friends who love it. I commute each day and am lucky enough to ride a few trails to work, so I enjoy my 100mm hardtail as it's a great compromise between trails and tarmac, and I agree it keeps you honest, but I have more fun on my 150mm dual suspension bike. To each their own!
1. We would be talking from a completely new show more accorded with nowadays gravity face of Mtbiking...
2. Circuits competely redesigned to the new posibilites far way more spectacular
3. Less ultradangerous overdebars -smash face crashes and far way mor whips!
4. XC false mtbikers would go back to the place where they never should left... the road and ciclocross.
when (if) you ll get good enough w handling, you'll understand that a dropper on xc bikes is a disadvantage. you need to push with your leg on the seat to control the bike.
–MojoMaujer
I am no XC racer by any means but I have put in a lot of XC miles and helped train my wife for WC's and such. I once raced the North Shore triple crown (Seymour, Fromme, Cypress in one day) on my wife's Trek Fuel with the seat jacked the whole time. I walked one section that I would have walked anyway with the seat down. Those top level XC dudes have very good technical descending skills and can cope with a seat raised.
Where do you start your riding platform from?
look at the riders bodies...
just like comparing a hockey player with a baseball player.
DH is so sanitized... nothing like original DH...
Dropper seatpost are not an option for XC, you need the post between your tights to control the bike. XC bikes are short w seep angles.
And the only reason people complain about lycra is bc kids nowadays are all fatties... i do prefer baggies in the summer and bib tights in the winter... lycra is very tin and gets caught in the saddle nose----
–MojoMujer
90% of the people i see on a dh or endure or whatever bikes they are just riding what you can easily do w hardtail. You don't need a motorcycle to do 4 ft drop!
nice coverage pinkbike. keep it coming!
If proper mtbiking is going on a 50 pounds engineless motorcycle down a hill for three minutes....